Teenager left partially blind after nightclub attack

Adam Broad attacked Ben Roche on the dancefloor of Stafford's Couture nightspot.

Stafford Crown Court heard that Mr Roche has lost central vision in his left eye and has been told by doctors that at some point in the future he will be completely blind in that eye.

Mr Nick Burn, prosecuting, said Broad had repeatedly bumped in to Mr Roche during the night. When the victim told Broad to clear off, he was punched in the face to his left eye.

Broad, aged 19, of Wolverhampton Road, Penkridge, admitted inflicting grievous bodily harm at court on Thursday.

Judge Michael Challinor told Broad: "I leave you with this thought. Long after you are released from your sentence Ben Roche will still be coping with partial blindness which you have caused him.

"One can't think of a worse situation for a young man than that and you are responsible for it. If I could restore his sight by imposing a lengthy sentence, I would unhesitatingly do so, but that is not possible."

Mr Burn told the court the incident on December 22 last year started with Broad coming up to Mr Roche while he was dancing with a girl, bumping in to him and asking what he was doing with the girl.

Mr Roche later told police: "On one occasion he tapped the side of my face so I did it back to him. We both seemed to smile about it.

"We started to walk off the dancefloor, before I got there, I felt a punch to my left eye. I felt pain straight away.

"I turned round and saw Adam Broad standing behind me. I asked 'what did you do that for?' He just ignored me."

Mr Roche was unable to see out of his eye, but thought it might be a normal reaction to a blow like that and tried to carry on normally. He went to work the next day before realising he had a serious problem.

Broad was arrested two days later on Christmas Eve.

The court heard that Broad had written a letter apologising to Mr Roche, saying he never intended to cause him such a serious injury.

Mr Mark Nicholls, defending, said: "Right from the outset this young man accepted losing his temper.". He added the attack was 'entirely out of character'.

Broad will spend 18 months in a young offenders institution.